Critically evaluating the primary literature and applying the information to patient care is vital to ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Unfortunately, the foundational knowledge and skills that most of us acquire during our formal education and post-graduate training programs are unlikely to fully prepare us for the challenges and intricacies of interpreting the evolving methods used in clinical drug studies today. Like the development of any skill, it requires practice and refinement over time. In this TOP TEN list, we reflect on some important concepts that can get overlooked or misinterpreted.